230 



MY GARDEN. 



ever adorn a garden. Some of the delicately pencilled flowers are 



to my mind exquisite. There are several species in cultivation. 

 All the plants hitherto described decorate the garden in spring 



and summer ; but for late summer and early autumn blossoms we 



must have recourse to herbaceous phloxes, dahlias, hollyhocks, and 



chrysanthemums. 



There is a period of the year when flowers are scarce, as in the 



latter part of August and the end of Septem- 

 ber. At this time the effect of the flower of 



the Herbaceous Phlox (fig. 449) is paramount. 



The plants throw up stems from three to four 



feet high, and, when two or three years' old, 



present such magnificent heads of flower, and 



of such beautiful colours, as to give really a cha. 



racter to the garden. They must not obtrude 



into geometrically forriied beds, but their gor- fig- 449— Herbaceous Phiox. 



geous display must be restricted to more subordinate positions. A 



great many plants should be grown, embracing a number of varieties. 

 They are easily propagated by division, and varieties are 

 obtained by sowing seed of the most approved kind, and 

 then selecting the finest produce for permanent cultivation. 

 In the background the Hollyhock {AlthcBa rosea, fig. 

 450), with its magnificent yellow, red, and almost black 

 flowers, stands conspicuously pro- 



Fin. 450. —Hollyhock. 



Fig. 45T. — Dahlia. 



^ minent behind the herbaceous 



phlox. It grows very fine and 

 very freely at my garden, and the 

 ■flower is so grand that it ought 

 always to be cultivated. It is 

 easily raised by seed, and propa- 

 gated by cuttings. 



The Dahlia (fig. 451), a melancholy reminder of departing summer, 

 comes to our aid for the embellishment of the garden at the end of 

 August and during September. The plant was introduced at the 



